INDEPENDENT BUTCHERS and farm shops are being offered a preferential discount if they sign up to join a pressure group, the Federation of Private Businesses (FPB).

INDEPENDENT BUTCHERS and farm shops are being offered a preferential discount if they sign up to join a pressure group, the Federation of Private Businesses (FPB).

The FPB, which represents 25,000 small and medium-sized firms, is recruiting new members by offering them a special 25 per cent reduction in their joining fee if they sign up before the end of February.

New members get a range of legal benefits including up to £50,000 to cover employment tribunals and tax investigations, access to a free helpline, cheap rates on credit card purchases and help from debt recovery experts.

FPB membership manager Jenny Stewart said: "We know how tough it is to run a business and we're here to make life cheaper and easier."